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. 2013 Apr 12;55(1):30. doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-55-30

Table 1.

Variables and their level describing general factors, management and husbandry systems

Variable Level Herds per level (%) Herds per level (n)
General herd factors
Number of sows
 < 250
 58.4
 73
250 - < 500
 32.0
 40
≥ 500
 9.6
 12
Number of nursery pigs
 ≥ 250 - < 500
 9.6
 12
≥ 500 - <1,000
 46.4
 58
≥ 1,000
 44.0
 55
 
 0
 27.2
 34
Number of fattening pigs
 > 1 - < 500
 6.4
 8
≥ 500 - < 1,000
 25.6
 32
≥ 1,000 - < 2,000
 25.6
 32
≥ 2,000
 15.2
 19
Production or age groups within the same building as the farrowing unit
 No others
 15.2
 19
Nursery pigs and fattening pigs
 12.0
 15
Sows
 48.0
 60
Nursery-/ fattening pigs and sows
 24.8
 31
Moving of sows through compartments stocked with nursery pigs
 No
 98.4
 123
Yes
 1.6
 2
Moving of sows through compartments stocked with fattening pigs
 No
 99.2
 124
Yes
 0.8
 1
Management in the farrowing unit
Farrowing rhythm
 continuous farrowing
 4.8
 6
Batch-wise farrowings:
 every week
 11.2
 14
every second week
 31.2
 39
every third week
 41.6
 52
every fourth week
 9.6
 12
at longer intervals than four weeks
 1.6
 2
All-in/all-out policy
 100% of all batches
 68.0
 85
< 100% of all batches
 32.0
 40
Farrowing unit for sows not fitting into a dedicated batch of the rhythm (RTE)
 No
 56.8
 71
Yes
 43.2
 54
Idle time of the farrowing unit in days
 < 1
 19.2
 24
> 1 - < 3
 46.4
 58
> 3
 34.4
 43
Disinfection of the compartment before restocking
 100% of all batches
 23.2
 29
< 100% of all batches
 76.8
 96
Cleaning of the compartment with high pressure cleaner before restocking
 100% of all batches
 0.8
 1
< 100% of all batches
 99.2
 124
Washing of the sows before moving into the farrowing unit
 never
 45.6
 57
100% of all batches
 32.8
 41
< 100% of all batches
 21.6
 27
Age of piglet in days p.p., when receiving first iron injection
 < 3
 79.2
 99
> 3
 20.8
 26
Repetition of iron injection in piglets
 No
 60.8
 76
Yes
 39.2
 49
Age of piglets in days, when castration takes place
 < 3
 20.8
 26
> 3 - < 7
 49.6
 62
> 7
 29.6
 37
Age of piglets in days, when tail docking takes place
 < 3
 75.2
 94
> 3 - < 7
 24.8
 31
Age of piglets in days, when teeth grinding takes place
 No teeth grinding
 35.2
 44
> 1 - < 7
 64.8
 81
Age of piglets in days, when ear tagging takes place
 < 3
 12.0
 15
> 3 - < 7
 40.8
 51
> 7
 47.2
 59
Age of piglets in days, when weaning takes place
 < 20
 8.0
 10
> 20 - < 28 days
 87.2
 109
> 28
 4.8
 6
Management in the nursery unit
All-in/all-out policy
 100% of all batches
 83.2
 104
< 100% of all batches
 16.8
 21
Cleaning of the compartment with high pressure cleaner before restocking
 100% of all batches
 100.0
 125
< 100% of all batches
  
  
Disinfection of the compartment before restocking
 100% of all batches
 83.2
 104
< 100% of all batches
 16.8
 21
Management in the fattening unit
All-in/all-out policy
 100% of all batches
 85.7
 78
 
 < 100% of all batches
 14.3
 13
Cleaning of the compartment with high pressure cleaner before restocking
 100% of all batches
 90.1
 82
 
 < 100% of all batches
 9.9
 9
Disinfection of the compartment before restocking
 100% of all batches
 69.2
 63
 
 < 100% of all batches
 30.8
 28
Replacement policy (sows)
Source of the gilts
 Own breeding
 11.2
 14
Purchase
 88.8
 111
Quarantine for gilts
 No
 5.3
 6
Yes
 94.7
 108
Duration of the quarantine in weeks
 ≤ 3
 24.1
 26
> 3 - ≤ 6
 66.6
 72
> 6
 9.3
 10
Location of the quarantine compartment
 Separate farm
 8.3
 9
Separate building
 69.5
 75
Separate compartment
 22.2
 24
All-in/all-out policy
 Yes
 86.1
 93
No
 13.9
 15
Exposure to the gilts
 Nothing
 55.5
 60
Living pigs
 30.6
 33
Faeces
 13.9
 15
Replacement policy (boars)
Source of replacement boars
 Own breeding
 52.0
 65
Purchase
 48.0
 60
Number of purchases of replacement boars in the last 12 month
 0
 74.4
 93
≥ 1
 25.6
 32
Quarantine for replacement boars
 No
 78.3
 47
Yes
 21.7
 13
Housing in the farrowing unit
Flooring in the farrowing pen
 Completely plastic
 26.4
 33
Other materials
 73.6
 92
Flooring in the piglet creep
 Completely plastic
 28.0
 35
Other materials
 72.0
 90
Heating in the piglet creep
 Underfloor heating + infrared light
 63.2
 79
Other systems
 36.8
 46
Air inlet
 Door
 44.8
 56
Other systems
 55.2
 69
Air outlet
 Fan
 83.2
 104
Other systems
 16.8
 21
Housing of gilts
Flooring
 Fully slatted
 39.8
 43
Other systems
 60.2
 65
Pen walls
 Concrete
 57.4
 62
Open
 42.6
 46
Feeding system
 Automatic
 60.2
 65
Manual
 39.8
 43
Air inlet
 Door
 23.1
 25
Other systems*
 76.9
 83
Air outlet
 Fan
 46.3
 50
Other systems**
 53.7
 58
Storage of manure
 Subsurface
 92.6
 100
Outside of the compartment
 7.4
 8
Housing of replacement boars
Flooring
 Fully slatted
 46.2
 6
Other systems
 53.8
 7
Pen walls
 Concrete
 30.8
 4
Open
 69.2
 9
Feeding system
 Automatic
 69.2
 9
Manual
 30.8
 4
Air inlet
 Door
 30.8
 4
Other systems
 69.2
 9
Air outlet
 Fan
 53.8
 7
Other systems
 46.2
 6
Storage of manure
 Underfloor
 92.3
 12
  Outside of the compartment 7.7 1

*Alternative systems for air inlet include perforated ceilings, air flaps along the outer wall, air flaps in the central aisle, etc.

**Alternative systems for air outlet include centralized subsurface exhaustion, decentralized subsurface exhaustion, etc.